Abraham was attentive to the care of his son Isaac. He chose a proper wife for his son by having his steward select a wife from his kinfolk, but he did not allow Isaac to travel “for any reason” (Gn 24:6) to the place where his kinfolk lived.  Abraham knew that place might lead Isaac away from following the Lord, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac. Abraham’s greatest priority was that his son Isaac and his future wife would serve God as he and Sarah served God. God always came first with Abraham.

Jesus tells us bluntly to not turn back (Lk 9:62). We all have places, people, and “things in our lives to which we cannot return”; they would influence us to turn away from God. As St. Paul warned: “My fear is that, just as the serpent seduced Eve by his cunning, your thoughts may be corrupted and you may fall away from your sincere and complete devotion to Christ” (2 Cor 11:3).

What is the place to which you can never go back? Most likely, you know exactly what that place is. If that place involves people who will tempt you to sin, keep in mind what St. Paul said: “Bad company corrupts good morals” (1 Cor 15:33). “Let your eyes look straight ahead and your glance be directly forward…Turn neither to right nor to left, keep your foot far from evil” (Prv 4:25, 27).

“Fix your eyes on Jesus” (Heb 3:1). “Let anyone who thinks he is standing upright watch out lest he fall!” (1 Cor 10:12)

Rescript:  "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from June 1, 2023, through July 31, 2023. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio December 14, 2022"

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.